Carmi natives killed in Evansville, Ind., home

Carmi natives Homer and Lela Meriwether died early Sunday morning when a car went out of control and crashed through their home in Evansville, Ind. The driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Thomas Hodgson of Newburgh, Ind., also died in the crash.

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The Carmi Times - Carmi, IL

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Posted Dec. 31, 2012 at 5:00 PM

Posted Dec. 31, 2012 at 5:00 PM

Evansville, Ind.

Carmi natives Homer and Lela Meriwether died early Sunday morning when a car went out of control and crashed through their home in Evansville, Ind. The driver of the vehicle, 24-year-old Thomas Hodgson of Newburgh, Ind., also died in the crash.

According to WFIW Radio, Hodgson was eastbound on Riverside Drive around 2:45 Sunday morning, missed a curve, crashed into a guardrail, went airborne and slammed into the Meriwether's South Norman Avenue home.

The vehicle went completely through Meriwether's brick home and came to rest in their back yard. The Vanderburgh County Coroner told relatives that the Meriwethers died instantly in the crash. Both were in bed at the time of the crash.

Homer Meriwether, 75, worked for Cummins Diesel in Evansville as a mechanic, serviceman and later as a salesman. He retired as a sales representative for Cummins in 2002.

His wife, Lela (Templeton) Meriwether, 74, is also a native of Carmi. She was a housewife and a sales representative for Home Interior products.

They have two children. Rick Meriwether, who lives in Georgia, is the couple's only surviving son. Jeff Meriwether of Evansville died earlier this year of lung cancer, relatives said.

Locally, Homer Meriwether is survived by a brother Jim Meriwether of Fairfield. Lela is survived by a brother, Roscoe Templeton, of Carmi.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Vanderburgh County Coroner Annie Groves says the cause and manner of death will be released following autopsies.